Scorch & Soda

Not since a caramel fell into a bowl of salt have we seen a flavor sensation dominate like the “smoky” cocktail. I’ve been experimenting here & there while slowly compiling this post over the summer but it wasn’t until I had my very first GIN martini the other night (I know, right? wonders never cease) accompanied by big fat smoked olives that I became a full fledged “Smoker”

OK, I know this photo would have been so much nicer if the glass wasn’t 1/2 empty and I hadn’t taken a big bite of the olive, but I just wasn’t anticipating how damn good it was going to be! (Hendricks gin btw) and you’re probably saying; can this possibly be the same Slim who loves roasted marshmallow martinis? I agree-it’s sheer madness.

Even I didn’t know I was this ambi-drinkerous.

So, at least for the month of November, I’m all about the “the fumes”

I’ve been wracking my brains trying to think of a way to capture smoke within an ice cube. I tried typing “Smoke in ice cubes ” into Google and got nothing but photos of the rapper “Ice Cube” smoking cigars, plus some rather inventive ways of smoking meth.

Boston:Clio, home to the city’s most extensive cocktail list. The Drink: The Hunter ($13).What’s in It : Sage-infused white rum, Willet single-barrel rye, and apple cider, plus a cloud of burned oak and cinnamon. Smoked ice (smoked over liqueur-soaked wood chips) are used in the “Frank-)” cocktail, also at Clio

2) make your own smoked oil by gently heating and infusing olive oil with hickory smoke powder and fresh or dried herbs of your choice, then marinate olives.

3) Thoroughly soak a cedar plank (important), wrap olives in a tinfoil package, making several slits in the top and sides, place on wet plank, cover and grill (smoking times will vary depending on temperature) You can find several recipes for smoking olives online.

Wow, thank you for doing all that research for us. It was a rough job and you did admirably. I’m intrigued by the smoked olives and will probably buy mine already to go!!
My clocks are set back and since it will start getting darker earlier, it will feel like cocktail time sooner in the day!

S.P. If you’re still in NYC I think a place you should investigate is Booker & Dax. I CAN NOT believe you have just recently enjoyed your first Hendricks martini! Welcome to the club, we’ve been waiting for you.

The smoke essence is new to me – and will search out those olives (I call them hors d’oeuvres) or try my own the next time the grill is hot. Thanks! Crafting a good cocktail is a hobby of mine. Cheers!

I’m no longer in NYC Linda but will put it on the list for next time. I love “Hendricks” gin second only to “Old Raj” but I’d never had it in a martini-I thought I only liked vodka martinis. I thought wrong.

Since I live in the heart of Bourbon Country, we look forward to Fall for the smooth and smoky Bourbon drinks–but since I recently returned from Paris, I took a bottle to our new Town Branch Bourbon–not sweet and perfect for a fall, rainy afternoon–to my French friends and I returned with the Perfect Autumn and Winter drink–8 year aged Calvados. I want to find the Smoked Olive Oil, sounds heavenly.

It’s 10:00 Sunday morning.
Oops!
It’s 9:00 Sunday morning and
I’m already salivating over
those smoked olives.
Will suggest this to my
grill-master when he returns
from Breeder’s Cup!
Our friends in
Woodford County will
have a good chuckle over
Mr. Zimmerman’s “Kentucky!”
On the other hand,
they will surely give a southern nod
to the Yardbird for their
“Smoked Pear!”
My grill-master always has planks & Reserve.
I’ll pick up the olives, bitters & liqueur.
The Porter’s will be stoked to
get smoked!
Thanks Slim!

Intriguing….I was wondering if you wear Le Smoking jacket while drinking some of these concoctions??? Even though it’s well before noon, somehow your post has made me want to try one of these. Looking forward to some smokin’ posts this month, Slim!

“Even I didn’t know I was this ambi-drinkerous.” This was a great line – tho I must admit your readers might have guessed this trait was always there – if they have been following your posts, you have led us to many an interesting concoction – and we are grateful!
I just paid $24, for a local smoked olive oil, whose contents was half of the one you are recomending – it is yummy drizzeled over a veggie/feta omlette – your oil recomendation is a much better deal.
I never like the “Fall Back” bit – loosing the evening to darkness is dreary – may yours be bright!

And when you are ready for desert and find yourself in Cambridge MA (I dont know, maybe you are asked to speak to the harvard undergrads!) you MUST try T.W. Food for their… and I quote from their web page …SCOTCH AND CIGARS beignets with tobacco ice cream, macallan 12 scotch syrup, valrhona chocolate ganache
Died and went to heaven in a smoky haze!

Slim
I love smoked foods so I know I’d love smoked olives…must try some of the recipes above.
Sorry the time has changed but Orange County was 90 degrees today so what’s up with that for fall weather?
Karen

I don’t believe I’ve ever even had a smoked cocktail. Oddly though, just a few hours before reading your blog I bought tickets to a pop-up restaurant dinner party with a “Smoke & Fire themed dinner by Fat Dragon”…. that could be my lucky night!